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An Introduction to White Wine
Our quick learner's guide to white wine features a list of white wine grape varieties and the white wines they produce.
White wine can actually be made from white or black grapes, as all grape juice is initially colourless. With the exception of a few wines, many of them sparkling, however, most whites are produced from white grapes.White wine should be served chilled, but not ice cold. If served too cold, it can mask many of the flavours present. Styles range from very dry to sweet, depending on the grapes used.
How to serve wine: Breathing, pouring, temperature, glassware, decanting and even how to properly open the bottle.
"Wine makes a man better pleased with himself. I do not say that it makes him more pleasing to others." - Samuel Johnson
Grapes used to make white wine
The following list breaks down the various grapes used to produce white wine. If you're a newcomer to white wine, try a variety of choices until you find your favourites.Nervous about a wine-tasting situation? Here are some simple tips to hold your own.
Chardonnay
[shar-dun-NAY] This one is a well-known variety, and it makes for a good introduction to white wine. It produces wine styles ranging from light and fresh, to heavily oaked, buttery and tropical-fruit-flavoured wines.Did you know Chardonnay grapes are one of the two main grapes used to make sparkling wine. Learn more here.
Chenin Blanc
[SHEN'N BLAHNK] This grape is found in a range of wines including dry and sharp, sparkling, medium and extra-sweet wines. Mature examples have a nutty, honeyed flavour. A native of France's Loire Valley, this grape is currently South Africa's most planted grape, and is often blended with other grapes to make table wines.Gewürztraminer
[geh-VERTS-trah-mee-ner] At its best, this grape produces floral and refreshing wines with crisp acidity that pair well with spicy dishes. When left for late harvest, these wines are uncommonly rich and complex, and make for tremendous dessert wines. A number of quality Gewürztraminers come from France's Alsace region.Muscat
[MUSS-kat] This versatile grape is used in sparkling, white and fortified wines. The wine actually smells of the grape itself. Muscats vary from rich and sweet to light, floral and dry.Riesling
[REES-ling] Best known from Germany, Rieslings range from dry, light and apple crisp to rich, sweet and honey-flavoured. Most Rieslings pair well with food. Be warned though: good, inexpensive Rieslings are rare.Sauvignon Blanc
[SO-vin-yon BLAHNK] This aromatic grape is grown in a number of regions in France and very successfully in New Zealand as well. Also known as Fumé Blanc in the U.S., it offers a delightfully fresh, tangy style with distinctive flavours of gooseberries, elderflower and asparagus. This wine is often seen as a distant second to the heavier Chardonnay – but it's refreshing, typically cheaper than Chardonnay and pairs well with many foods, making it well worth trying.Learn more about pairing wine with food, including a great chart pairing wines with specific cheeses.
